FA Trophy match report Home v Welling United via Mr Anthony Mercer.

Tilbury 3 Welling United 4 (Att 186)

A fantastic second half performance by Tilbury was not enough in a highly charged and action packed FA Trophy tie at a windy Chadfields.

Welling took the lead inside the first 30 seconds when Kieron St Aimie headed home unchallenged over the helpless Clarke Bogard after a Barney Williams cross. Welling took control of the game and on 18 St Aimie was again in the action when Clarke Bogard saved well. This kicked started Tilbury who came in to the game with Francis Babalola going close. Just past the half hour, a simple throw in, found George Porter on the edge of the area who chipped beautifully into the roof of the net. Just before the break and the wind blowing behind Welling, George Porter was played in by Jefford and rounded Bogard to slot in to the net. Welling started the second period well and on 57 Porter hit a great effort to secure his hat-trick, but Bogard was again to the rescue with a good save. On the hour the game looked over when Ricky Wellard finished off a good move to score left footed to make it 4-0. Tilbury got back in the game and had a good period, with Danny Glozier firing just over, before Kurt Smith saw his effort well saved by McEntegart and the resulting corner saw Emiel Aiken seeing his effort deflected wide. Tilbury continued to play some good football and got a deserved goal with 8 minutes to go when Jack Carlile picked up the ball on the edge of the area and hit a low shot home that took a slight deflection. Defender Danny Smith saw his effort cleared off the line before a corner from Harry Cook with 4 minutes to go was turned in by Kurt Smith. Welling were on the back foot and it looked a matter of time before Tilbury would score and they did so in injury time when Danny Glozier rifled home from 25 yards for the goal of the game and possibly the season to make it 4-3. Deep into injury time Tony Martin saw his free kick just over, which was the last action of an action packed game.

After the game Assistant Manager Danny Smith commented “I am disappointed to see our good tun come to an end, but it took a Conference side to do so. After what we have done over the last 3 months and to go behind 4-0, any team could crumble and that is a sign of a good team. We never gave up the fight and the comeback was fantastic. Welling were holding on at the end and if there was only 5 more minutes, I am sure we would be playing a replay on Tuesday night. It was a enjoyable day and we will now focus on the job in hand"
The Dockers attention now turns to next Tuesday, when we make a trip to Brightlingsea Regent, before a home match on Saturday v Witham Town.

Team: Bogard, Mead, Glozier, Nightingill, D Smith, Game, Babalola (Martin 60), Carlile, Richmond (H Cook 66), Aiken, K Smith

Unused Subs: Pooley, Webb, Hawes